Pune, 25 December 2025: A 34-year-old man was stabbed to death in Pune’s Ambegaon area on Monday evening (December 22) following a dispute linked to an interreligious friendship, police said. The incident occurred near a washing centre in the Katraj–Ambegaon locality.
The deceased has been identified as Javed Khwajamiya Pathan, a resident of Khwajanagar in Bhokar taluka of Nanded district, who belonged to the Muslim community. Police have registered a murder case against Sandeep Rangrao Bhurke (25) and his associate.
Bhurke is related to the woman involved in the case and belongs to a different religious community. Both accused are currently absconding.
According to the police, Pathan was friends with a young woman from another faith, a relationship opposed by Bhurke. On Monday evening around 7 pm, Pathan was standing near the washing centre when the accused confronted him and demanded that he end the friendship. An argument followed, which soon turned violent.
Police said Bhurke and his associate allegedly attacked Pathan with a sharp weapon, leaving him critically injured. He was taken to a nearby hospital and later shifted to Sassoon General Hospital, where he died during treatment late at night.
Senior police officers visited the spot soon after the incident. The Ambegaon Police Station has formed special teams to trace the accused. Further investigation is underway.
